Qin Yining knew that at this point, exposing her identity was inevitable. However, she felt that even if exposed, it wasn’t a big deal. The purpose of this territorial journey had essentially been achieved. She had wanted to investigate the background of Sitong Bank, and now she was clear about it. Moreover, she only had the entry pass that Qiu Feishan had given her, without the legendary exit pass, so she could completely take advantage of this opportunity to make a big scene and find a chance to leave this place.
Otherwise, in this place where the Qiu family had almost become local emperors, her heart always felt uneasy.
While Qin Yining was deep in thought, Old Lady Qiu’s crying also weakened, perhaps because she was tired from all the crying and wailing. Moreover, she was sitting on the ground howling while Qin Yining remained unmoved, sitting upright and drinking tea. She was, after all, the old lady of a branch family, and this was somewhat too unseemly.
Old Lady Qiu extended her hands to the two women on either side, spitting, “Seeing your mother-in-law fall down, you don’t even know to help her up. What use are such stupid women!”
Clearly she had sat down herself, but now for the sake of face she was blaming others. Did she think everyone was blind?
Qin Yining shook her head. Seeing this person inevitably reminded her of the old lady in her own family, who was equally headache-inducing when making a scene. Fortunately, she was now an outsider and didn’t need to consider any filial piety or grandmother-granddaughter sentiment. She didn’t need to accommodate such shameless behavior at all.
Just when both sides were maintaining silence, the crowd of onlookers outside the inn also began discussing in low voices. All the common people were cursing Qin Yining as a vixen, saying she had some improper relationship with Qiu Feizhen and had ordered people to injure Qiu Feizhen.
These common people had blind obedience and worship toward the Qiu family in their hearts, so that everyone, without investigation, had already determined that all the fault lay with Qin Yining.
None of these people had seen how the incident actually occurred, but now when spreading rumors, they were like they had all been Qin Yining’s guardian spirits, describing in vivid detail the specific process of how she seductively lured people.
Mu Jinghu stood beside Qin Yining, his fists clenched tighter and tighter. As a martial arts master with superior senses, those discussions that Qin Yining could only vaguely hear were all as clear as if spoken word by word and sentence by sentence right in Mu Jinghu’s ear.
At this moment, he was burning with rage. This group of people were all talking nonsense, pushing all the blame onto Qin Yining. They were clearly all sycophants seeking favor with the powerful.
He had promised Pang Xiao that he would definitely protect her well. But now things had gotten this big.
Mu Jinghu’s face was flushed red, his fists clenched so tightly they almost made cracking sounds.
Just then, a commotion came from outside the courtyard.
Qin Yining raised her eyebrows and looked up to see a middle-aged man in blue casual clothes with a round figure approaching quickly with his hands behind his back. Although this person looked honest and simple, the shrewd gleam in his eyes couldn’t be hidden at all. As soon as he entered the courtyard gate, his gaze passed over Old Lady Qiu and fell directly on Qin Yining.
“This must be Princess Consort Zhongshun? This humble one is Wú Xuantong, the local Governor. Princess Consort, since you’ve come to Jianchuan, why didn’t you say so in advance? This prefecture could have prepared ahead of time to welcome you with clear water sprinkling the streets and yellow sand covering the ground!” As he spoke, his shrewd little eyes rolled around Qin Yining’s body as he cupped his hands in salute.
Qin Yining waved her hand: “Governor Wú, no need for ceremony. I merely accepted a friend’s invitation to visit her hometown. Who would have expected that just after settling in at the inn, I would encounter a lecher claiming to be a Qiu family master making advances and verbal insults.
“My accompanying guards are all of military background, and having received the Prince’s instructions to protect me thoroughly, they naturally couldn’t watch me being insulted. I originally thought it was some lawless villain impersonating the Qiu family name to commit evil deeds. I never expected that the sixth branch’s old lady of the Qiu family would actually come, and that scoundrel was truly the sixth branch’s eldest master of the Qiu family?”
Qin Yining’s face showed complete disbelief and grief. She shook her head helplessly, with regret and helplessness: “I never thought my good friend’s family would produce such a person. It’s truly heartbreaking.”
Qin Yining’s voice was gentle and measured, but every word was spoken clearly and plainly without any flaws or omissions. She not only explained the matter clearly but also subtly mocked all those who had been unreasonable earlier.
Upon hearing this, Governor Wú immediately knew this was no simple person—that sharp tongue wasn’t given for nothing.
“What the Princess Consort says is true. Such matters are indeed heartbreaking. However, the rights and wrongs of this matter still require investigation by this prefecture.” As Governor Wú spoke, he observed Qin Yining’s expression. Seeing her slightly raise her slender willow-like eyebrows, he quickly added an explanation: “No other meaning intended. It’s not that I don’t believe the Princess Consort, but since the matter is serious, this prefecture must do its duty properly.”
“What Governor says is right. Your ability to enforce the law impartially is naturally good.”
Qin Yining smiled slightly, allowing the people Governor Wú brought to search and inquire everywhere.
Qin Yining then instructed Jingzhe and all the Elite Tiger Guards to gather in the courtyard.
The inn’s side courtyard wasn’t very large to begin with. Qin Yining now sat upright in the center, accompanied by two beautiful and pretty maidservants, one cold-faced handsome scholar, three ordinary-looking servants in short brown robes, and six or seven tall and burly strong men. When these people gathered together, just their bearing was already extraordinary, not to mention Qin Yining’s leisurely attitude and noble temperament.
Old Lady Qiu, who had been shouting and screaming for half the day, only now came to her senses and truly realized that she had just pointed at a Princess Consort’s nose and cursed, and quite harshly at that. She had even tried to physically grab her?
But even so, her panic was only momentary.
What kind of person was she? She was the old lady of the sixth branch of the Qiu family! In this one-third acre of Jianchuan territory, did their Qiu family need to consider outsiders’ feelings?
Old Lady Qiu thought of her son at home covering his groin and screaming miserably, thinking that her son’s happiness for the second half of his life had been destroyed. Anger and hatred burned up again. She wiped her tears and rushed toward Qin Yining: “You demon woman! You failed to seduce my son and then committed violence! You’re simply shameless!”
Old Lady Qiu was like this, and the two daughters-in-law who followed her were equally full of hatred.
Originally thinking that with the local Governor present, and the Governor saying he would investigate the matter carefully, the Qiu family people shouldn’t act rashly anymore.
Who knew Old Lady Qiu completely didn’t play by normal rules and rushed forward like a madwoman. If not for Mu Jinghu and Jingzhe’s quick reflexes, Old Lady Qiu’s hands would have scratched Qin Yining’s face.
Jingzhe used force in his hand and pushed the old lady aside: “Impudent! Daring to assault the Princess Consort, do you not want your life!”
Old Lady Qiu rubbed her aching waist and buttocks and burst into loud crying again: “Murder! Murder! Is this to kill and silence witnesses!”
When Old Lady Qiu cried, her two daughters-in-law also began wailing loudly.
The side courtyard, which had just been quiet for a moment, became noisy again.
Qin Yining rubbed her temples and looked toward Governor Wú.
Governor Wú also felt Old Lady Qiu’s behavior was somewhat excessive, making things very difficult for him.
But this was the Qiu family’s domain. As Governor, he had many things to consider. He couldn’t offend one party for the sake of someone else. The best approach was to help neither side and stay out of it.
Thinking of this, Governor Wú smiled and said: “Princess Consort, don’t be angry. The sixth branch’s eldest master is injured, and it’s human nature for a mother to cry a few times out of excessive heartache for her son. The Princess Consort is such an important person, surely you won’t stoop to her level.”
Before Qin Yining could speak, Governor Wú turned to Old Lady Qiu and said: “You also stop making a scene. This is a Princess Consort from the capital, a favorite of the Empress and Empress Dowager. Her husband is Prince Zhongshun. If you still want a good outcome, don’t make trouble anymore!”
Old Lady Qiu wasn’t familiar with Governor Wú, so being scolded like this naturally made her both afraid and angry. Not daring to trouble Qin Yining anymore, she just covered her face and sobbed softly.
Just at this moment, a steady male voice came from outside: “Is Princess Consort Zhongshun staying here?”
“Indeed here.”
After this exchange, they saw a man in a sapphire blue round-collared wide-sleeved robe enter. He was quite tall, with a wisp of beard, a handsome man in his middle age. At first glance, one felt this man bore some resemblance to Qiu Feishan.
That person strode in, walked in front of Qin Yining, cupped his hands in salute, and said respectfully: “Not knowing that Princess Consort Zhongshun had arrived, having family members offend you is truly our oversight. This humble one is Qiu Yuanqing, the second master of the Qiu family’s main branch. I heard you’re carrying Feishan girl’s entry pass? I am Feishan’s second uncle.”
Qiu Yuanqing spoke like pearls dropping on jade, very quickly, showing this person must be someone with agile thinking and confidence. Without waiting for Qin Yining’s reply, he explained his identity and purpose in one breath, and even established a connection.
Qin Yining smiled and said: “So it’s Second Master Qiu. I’ve heard Feishan mention you.”
This should be the second uncle who was of one mind with Qiu Feishan. Saying she had heard about him was just establishing connections as well.
Qiu Yuanqing smiled and cupped his hands: “That Feishan girl must have caused the Princess Consort quite a bit of trouble, right? That girl has a stubborn nature and many mischievous ideas. Fortunately, she has a sincere temperament. Princess Consort, why would you stay at an inn when coming to Jianchuan? If the Princess Consort had given advance notice, this old man would certainly have swept the couch to welcome you. To be so negligent toward the Princess Consort is truly a sin.”
Compared to Old Lady Qiu who only knew how to make scenes, this Second Uncle Qiu was much more formidable. Don’t look at his polite words—his speech clearly blamed Qin Yining, because she herself hadn’t visited the Qiu family or revealed her identity, so she was molested, and even if molested, it was her own fault.
Qin Yining said: “I originally just accepted Feishan’s invitation to visit casually, not wanting to mobilize a great force. I didn’t expect such an accident would occur. Second Master Qiu, how do you plan to handle today’s matter?”
“Ah, it’s all my unworthy nephew who caused trouble for the Princess Consort. As his uncle, let me apologize to you on his behalf.” He then cupped his hands and bowed.
He was clearly acknowledging the great loss and no longer pursuing the matter.
Hearing this, how could Old Lady Qiu bear such treatment? She immediately shouted: “Qiu Yuanqing, how can you turn your elbow outward! Although we’re separated by branch lines, Feizhen is still your blood nephew and the precious treasure of our sixth branch. To be harmed by this poisonous whore…”
“Sixth Sister-in-law, hold your tongue!” Qiu Yuanqing scolded.
The Qiu family had over three hundred years of heritage. The main line and side branches had long been as complex as the branches of a tree. He was the second master of the main branch, while Qiu Feizhen’s father was the sixth branch master of a collateral line three generations removed. They had been separated by great distance since their grandfather’s generation.
The sixth branch now depended on the main branch for survival, yet didn’t know restraint, only knowing how to constantly cause trouble and stir up problems. How could Qiu Yuanqing tolerate this?